Is my Dog is ill? What you should be looking for

Knowing if your dog is unwell is often quite difficult.

The following are some common emergency situations and ideas for how to manage them.

Stomach Pain

If your dog is showing signs of abdominal pain, such as tenderness to the touch, standing with his back arched, or refusing food, you should take him to the closest veterinary clinic immediately for a  diagnosis. Other signs of stomach pain can include vomiting, whimpering, shaking and difficulty breathing. These may be signs of bloat. This condition can come on suddenly and in most cases

affects large, deep chested dogs, but any dog can be afflicted. This condition must be treated as early as possible. There are of course other conditions associated with abdominal pain such as constipation,

kidney or liver disease, or even a common stomach ache, but it is important to have tests done to rule out any other serious problems.

Bleeding

If your dog has an open wound, you should apply immediate direct pressure with a clean dry bandage to the wound and contact your vet. The bleeding should stop within ten minutes.Yyou will need to get to your vet as soon as possible so the wound can be stitched.

 However, if the bleeding does not end within twenty minutes or the dog is bleeding is from the chest, you should take your dog to the vet immediately.

Broken Bones

If your dog has been in an accident where you suspect broken bones call your vet and advise them you are coming, they will need to take x-rays to determine whether or not bones have been broken.

Difficulty Breathing or Laboured Breathing

If your dog is having any breathing difficulties take him to the closest veterinary clinic immediately. There are many reasons why your dog may be having breathing problems and many of them are serious.

Motor Vehicle Accident

If your dog is hit by a car, it is extremely important to take him to the closest veterinary clinic immediately. Your dog may be behaving normally but he may have internal injuries that need attention.

Wrapping an injured dog in a blanket or similar can help prevent shock, and remember to keep away from his mouth, as many dogs that are in distress will bite (even if they never have before).

Convulsions

If your dog has a minor convulsion or two, it is a serious problem and you should call your veterinarian at once. However, if your dog has a series of convulsions that last for more than a few minutes, you should place a blanket over your dog, keep away from his mouth and get him to the nearest

veterinary clinic immediately.

There are several reasons why your dog could be having convulsions, including epilepsy, metabolic problems, brain tumours, and poisoning.

Fits of seizures are considered to be life threatening in many occurrences.
For any illness, if the you feel that your dog should be seen by a veterinarian,  the best thing to do, if at all possible, is to call the veterinary clinic, tell them what is going on, and that you are on the way.

This helps the staff prepare for your emergency in advance so the veterinary team is ready to work on your dog when you get there.

If you have further questions on what kinds of symptoms are emergency situations, please phone and speak with one of our veterinarians.